Your Instructors

Your Directors

Marco Mellone

Director of Bands - Clovis East High School
marcomellone@cusd.com

Schedule & Ensembles
2nd Period: Reyburn Intermediate Band
3rd Period: Reyburn Concert Band
4th Period: Reyburn Symphonic Band
6th Period: Clovis East Symphonic Band
7th Period: Clovis East Wind Ensemble
8th Period: Clovis East Marching Band and Colorguard
Clovis East Winterguard

Marco Mellone is a graduate of California State University, Fresno, where he completed both his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Instrumental Music Education and Masters of Arts in Music Performance with emphasis in Wind band conducting. Prior to beginning his tenure at the Reagan Educational Center, Mr. Mellone served as the Director of Bands at Edison-Computech Middle School where he grew the program to a peak of 180 members and the performance ensembles earned several superior ratings and awards.
As Director of Bands, Mr. Mellone will direct the Clovis East Marching Band, the Clovis East Wind Ensemble, as well as oversee operations of the band and guard programs of the Reagan Educational Center. An active member of the music community, Mr. Mellone serves as a board member of the California Music Educators Association Central Section and is the band representative on the board for the Fresno Madera Counties Music Educators Association. Mr. Mellone currently serves as part of the educational staff and the Low Brass Coordinator for the Arizona Academy Drum & Bugle Corps based out of Tempe, Arizona.

Scott Downs

Director of Bands - Reyburn Intermediate School
scottdowns@cusd.com

Schedule & Ensembles
2nd Period: Reyburn Intermediate Band
3rd Period: Reyburn Concert Band
4th Period: Reyburn Symphonic Band
6th Period: Clovis East Symphonic Band
7th Period: Clovis East Colorguard
8th Period: Clovis East Marching Band and Colorguard
Reyburn Winterguard

Scott Downs received his B.M. in Music Education and his M.M. in Music Education from the University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music in Stockton, California. During his time at the Conservatory of Music, Mr. Downs studied euphonium and bass trombone with Matt Tropman and Scott Choate. Mr. Downs' past 8 summers have been spent touring and performing with local Drum Corps International corps. Mr. Downs marched with the Sacramento Mandarins on euphonium during the summers of 2010 and 2011, and marched with the Blue Devils "A" Corps from the summer of 2012 until he aged out in 2017 on trombone and euphonium. Mr. Downs was the Blue Devils trombone/euphonium section leader in 2016 and the horn sergeant in 2017. He was additionally a featured soloist on euphonium in their 2015 production, "Ink", and a featured trombone and euphonium soloist in their 2017 production, "Metamorph." This past summer, Mr. Downs instructed the Blue Devils "B" Corps hornline. In his free time, Mr. Downs enjoys going skiing with his friends, riding his motorcycle, or riding his mountain bike.

Levi Dougherty

Director of Percussion
levidougherty@cusd.com

Schedule & Ensembles
1st Period: Reyburn Percussion PE
2nd Period: Reyburn Beginning Percussion
4th Period: Reyburn Symphonic Band Percussion
6th Period: Clovis East Percussion
7th Period: Clovis East Wind Ensemble Percussion
8th Period Fall: Clovis East Marching Band
8th Period Spring: Reyburn and Clovis East Winter Percussion

Levi Dougherty received his B.A. in Music Education from California State University, Fresno. While at Fresno State, Levi studied percussion under Matthew Darling and performed in the top ensembles every semester including the Wind Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, and Percussion Ensemble. Levi has also marched with various marching ensembles including Golden Empire Drum and Bugle Corps, Valley Independent Percussion, and the Fresno State Marching Band. Mr. Dougherty began his tenure as a director at the Reagan Educational Center in 2018. He currently oversees the percussion programs at both Reyburn Intermediate School and Clovis East High School.

Ali Gilroy Golden

Director of Orchestras
aligilroygolden@cusd.com

Schedule & Ensembles
1st Period: Clovis East String Orchestra
2nd Period: Reyburn String Orchestra
3rd Period: Clovis East Chamber Orchestra
4th Period: Reyburn Intermediate Orchestra
6th Period: Reyburn Chamber Orchestra
8th Period: Clovis East Symphony Orchestra

Alexandra Gilroy Golden received her bachelor's degree, cum laude, in Oboe Performance and Music Education from the University of California, Los Angeles. While at UCLA Ms. Gilroy performed in top ensembles including the UCLA Wind Ensemble, the UCLA Philharmonia and the scholarship woodwind quintet, the Clandestine Quintet. In 2013, Ali completed her Master's in Music, with an emphasis in oboe performance, from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas receiving a full graduate assistantship. Here Ali performed with the UNLV Symphony Orchestra, the Wind Orchestra and Sin City Winds woodwind quintet. She can be heard performing on two of the UNLV Wind Symphony albums, Lost Vegas and Ventanas. Ms. Gilroy began her tenure at the Reagan Educational Center in the fall of 2013. Over the past five years she has the pleasure of directing the Reyburn Marching Band & Guard, the Reyburn Symphonic and Concert Bands, Reybun String and Chamber Orchestras as well as the Clovis East Orchestra. In 2018 Ms. Gilroy was appointed Director of Orchestras and began teaching string ensembles full time at the REC. Ali currently serves as the Vice President on the FMCMEA Board, the Orchestra Representative on the CMEA Central Section Board, and as the Convention Student Host on the CBDA Board working to plan and coordinate for the California State Convention, CASMEC. Ali continues to perform as a freelance musician and provide private oboe lessons throughout the central valley. Most recently, she was appointed the principal oboist position in the Wind Symphony of Clovis and had the honor of performing at the 2018 Midwest Clinic. Ms. Gilroy Golden currently resides in Fresno, CA with her husband Chris and their dogs Max & Maple Golden.

Adam Elmore
Director of Jazz Studies
adamelmore@cusd.com

Adam Elmore

Ensembles
1st Period: Reyburn Jazz Band
2nd Period: Reyburn String Orchestra
Elementary Ensembles: Freedom - TK - Reagan
8th Period: Clovis East Jazz Band

Adam Elmore earned his undergraduate degree from California State University, Fresno in 2008. He completed his Masters Degree in Double Bass Performance in fall of 2011, having held the principal position of the double bass section. He has performed in the Fresno City College Community Orchestra, attended summer music festivals in Durango Colorado, taught the Junior Symphony at the YMCA Camp Sequoia Lake summer camp, and is currently a conductor with the Youth Orchestras of Fresno. He also performs with jazz and pop musicians in Fresno's historic Tower district, and sing and play guitar and piano throughout Fresno and the central valley in a rock funk group called HR7. The 2018-2019 school year will be his 10th year as a music educator in Clovis Unified.

Our Elementary School Instrumental Music Teachers

Steve Maldonado

Rebecca Monson

stevemaldonado@cusd.com

rebeccamonson@cusd.com

Pete van der Paardt

Chee Vang

Reagan Elementary School + Freedom Elementary +
Boris Elementary
petevanderpaardt@cusd.com

cheevang@cusd.com

Our Percussion Team

Kheffy Cervantes
Clovis East Bass Drum

Kheffy Cervantez attended Tulare Union High School and was a member of the drum line from 2011-2014. Throughout the last 2 years of high school he also competed with the Independent Open group Valley Independent Percussion as well as DCI Open Class Corps, Blue Devils B. He became section leader of both bass lines at the age of 17 and helped the group achieve their first PIO Bronze Medal and 4th DCI Open Class Championship. After graduating from high school Mr. Cervantez would travel every weekend to southern California to perform with the 6 time World Champion PIW group - Riverside City College. Kheffy spent 4 years at RCC helping win a championship title in 2015, as well as 2018. He spent his last two years (2018, 2019) as part of the leadership team helping guide the group to two successful seasons. Kheffy also performed one season with the 19 time world champions, the Concord Blue Devils in their 2017 production "Metamorph". Aside from his marching career, Kheffy has assisted in many high schools as a Bass Drum Technician as well as Visual Designer throughout the Valley including: Buchanan HS, Clovis HS, Central HS, and Tulare Union HS.

Franzis Galario

Franzis Galario
Clovis East Front Ensemble

Franzis Galario graduated from El Diamante High School in Visalia, CA. In his years of experience, he has performed with Valley Independent Percussion from 2012-2014, the Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps in 2013, and Dark Sky Percussion in their 2015 and 2016 seasons. Franzis served to be the section leader of the front ensemble in his senior year of high school, Valley Independent Percussion 2014 and Dark Sky Percussion in 2016. Mr. Galario he has taught many schools in valley including, El Diamante, Tulare Union and Buchanan. Franzis is also currently teaching the front ensemble of the Fresno State Marching Band. M. Galario joined the Clovis East Percussion team in the winter of 2017.

Ray Rivera at DCI Championships 2017

Mark Tripp
Clovis East Front Ensemble

Mark Tripp graduated from Clovis High School in 2018. Throughout his time at Clovis High, Mark's primary instrument was the oboe. Mr. Tripp participated in fall marching band season as well as winter percussion as a memeber of Clovis High's front ensemble. During the summer of 2018 Mark marched with Blue Devils B and later, in 2019, he competed with Dark Sky Percussion. Currently, Mark teaches and writes with the Edison High School front ensemble part time. Mr. Tripp excitedly joined the Clovis East Percussion team in the Fall of 2019. Mark enjoys spending his time working, teaching, and writing music.

Ray Rivera
REC Drumline Caption Head

Ray Rivera graduated from Tulare Union High School in 2012. He marched Valley Independent Percussion in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016. In 2015 and 2016 Ray served as the tenor drums section leader. Mr. Rivera marching Blue Devils B Corps in the summers of 2015 and as section leader in 2016. Last season, in 2017 Ray marched in Bakersfield College Indoor. Ray has taught throughout the central valley for the past six years include Live Oak Middle School, Exeter Union High School, Buchanan High School, Glacier Point Middle School and Central High School. Mr. Rivera joined the REC Percussion team in 2015. He has been working at Reyburn Intermediate School as the Caption Head for the Drumline and with Clovis East High School's tenor drums section. In addition to his work with schools, Ray teaches privately throughout the central valley. Mr. Rivera is currently a student at Fresno City College majoring in Music Education and Mathematics. He plans to transfer to Fresno State to continue his work towards a degree.

Clavin Rodriguez
Clovis East Snares

Our Guard Team

Cesario Juarez
Clovis East Color Guard

Cesario Juarez is a graduate from Sanger High School. Over the course of his colorguard career, he spent 6 years with Frente Independent Open out of Fresno, Ca. He also marched 1 season with the world renown program, the Santa Clara Vanguard Winterguard. Earning a Silver Medal at WGI World Championships in 2016. In the Summer of 2018, he had the privilege of being a Tech and Choreographer at Genesis Drum and Bugle Corp out of Austin, Texas. Throughout his teaching career, he has been Caption Head at many high schools up and down the Central Valley. Recently he helped choreograph for El Capitan High School, a Scholastic Open colorguard in Merced, Ca. They earned Top 14 at WGI World Championships in Dayton, Ohio. He now spends his time choreographing for high schools throughout the valley along with teaching dance classes such as Contemporary and Jazz Funk at D&J Dance Company in Fresno, Ca. He is excited to embark on a new journey with the Timberwolves!

Ashley Norton
Clovis East & Reyburn Color Guards

Ashley Norton graduated from Clovis West High School, and is currently attending Fresno State for Nonprofit Administration. She has spent over ten years performing with various colorguards, including Frente and the Fresno State Bulldog Marching Band. Ashley joined the Reagan Educational Center's Guard Staff in the spring semester of 2015.

Nicole Taylor

Nicole Taylor
Reyburn Color Guard

Nicole Taylor graduated from Clovis West High School, where she began her colorguard career during her freshman year. Since she has been involved in the Fresno State Bulldog Marching Band and Frenté Winterguard. She is currently at Fresno City College, and is working towards a degree in Biology. Nicole began working with the Reagan Educational Center's Guard Staff in the fall of 2015. Miss Taylor hopes to one day be a teacher and coach colorguard here in Clovis.

Sarah Vasquez

Sarah Vasquez
Clovis East Color Guard

Sarah Vasquez is a graduate from Clovis High school, and is currently enrolled at Fresno City College studying to obtain her Associates in sign language interpreting. Over the past 10 years she has performed with multiple color guards including Fresno State's Bulldog Marching Band. Sarah joined the Reagan Educational Center's Guard Staff in the fall semester of 2019.

Cheyenne Young
The Emeralds Color Guard

Our String Faculty

Lianna Elmore - (559) 905-2102 - liastu@gmail.com

Lianna Elmore
Violin

Lianna Elmore began studying violin at age 5 with her mother Cynthia Stuart. She has gone on to study under Claudia Shiuh, Jassen Todorov, Zakarias Grafilo, and Dr. Limor Toren-Immerman at Fresno State where she earned her B.A. and M.A. in music performance. She currently plays with the Fresno Philharmonic and the Tulare County Symphony and is a principal violinist for the chamber music group, Moment Musical. Mrs. Elmore coaches for the Youth Orchestras of Fresno, teaches the after-school violin program, "Accent on Access" at Madison Elementary, and has a growing studio of private students. Most recently, Mrs. Elmore won a full time violin seat with the Fresno Philharmonic and is one of the founding members of The Tower Quartet, a Fresno based string quartet.

Sarine Topaldjikian - (559) 286-2071 - sarinemt94@gmail.com

Sarine Topaldjikian
Violin

Sarine Topaldjikian is a graduate of Clovis West High School and graduated with a B.A in Violin performance from CSU, Fresno in the Spring of 2018. Currently Miss Topaldjikian is pursuing a Masters in Music while also working towards earning her teaching credential. She is currently a part of Fresno State’s violin studio with Dr. Limor Toren-Immerman, as well as the Fresno State Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Thomas Loewenheim. She has previously worked with Clovis West as a string instructor, and currently teaches private lessons. Miss Topaldjikian joined the String Faculty here at Clovis East and Reyburn in 2016.

Derek Stewart

Derek Stewart
Viola

Diego Marrero - (787) 392-5922 - diegoma13@mail.fresnostate.edu

Diego F. Marrero
Cello

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Diego Marrero received his bachelor's degree in Cello Performance under Dr. Luis Miguel Rojas from the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico. During this time he performed in masterclasses for many prominent cellists, such as Emilio Colón, Alto Noras, Johannes Moser, Rafael Figueroa, Brian Schuldt and Claudio Bohorquez. In addition, Mr. Marrero has attended the Casals Festival in Prades, France, as a member of the Areté String Quartet and was a member of the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra from 2016-2018. Currently, he is persuring a Master's degree in Cello Performance at CSU, Fresno under Dr. Lowenheim and has a growing studio of private cello students.

Shawn Toner - (559) 394-6068 - shawntoner90@gmail.com

Shawn Toner
String Bass

Shawn Toner earned his B.A. in Instrumental Performance, as well as his M.A. in Music Performance from California State University, Fresno, where he studied with former principal of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Bruce Bransby. He currently works as a section coach at several intermediate and high schools throughout the Fresno and Clovis Unified School Districts, where he teaches both group and private lessons. He also coaches bass players as young as elementary school with the Youth Orchestras of Fresno, where he also serves as librarian. He continues to perform regularly with several orchestras throughout the Valley.